Speak with spirits

Evaluate the strength of a Vtes player is not as simple as you can do in other games or TCGs. When the games between two chess greatmasters, or two tennis champions, give us an information about their respective levels, or eventually on the domination by one type of player or another, a V:tes game is a meeting between five players and has various possible developments. I offer you here to look about what makes a good player of V:tes.

 

To cite the master, Gregory Williams was already speaking about it right in 2002!

Gregory is a great US player, winner of numerous tournaments. He was citing five key concepts, which were basically representing the required competences to become a better player.

 

Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi, sed saepe cadendo : A water shire will always break a stone if you give it time.

 

In a game of Vtes, patience is strength. You must be able to play until the last second to get results. I reached several finals with a last second victory point. You must watch until the last second to get this final VP you want when all players will start to relax. Gregory also reminds us that you need to take time to play cards: ask for the Direct Intervention when playing a card, leave the priority when needed, are crucial elements to master a game of V:tes.

 

Generically, I would associate this to the mental capacity of a player. Will he break under pressure? Will he be able to secure its way to victory and change it if needed during two hours, even if he knows he has like 5% chances getting half a vp at the end?

The ability of a player to keep his level of play during the game makes the difference between the average player and the dangerous player.

 

Fortuna caeca est : fortune is blind.

 

Murphy Law does apply to V :tes. It is almost sure that you are not going to draw the card you need when you want. During a game, it is essential not to account too much for luck. You need to build a deck and play your cards according to this principle. Some players eventually play as if they are going to draw the worst possible card.

 

Like a consequence of Murphy’s law, a good V :tes player knows how to deal with drawing statistics, the risks taken if missing and the benefits obtained if successful. The technical ability of a player does express itself obviously by seeing him mastering his deck totally, blocking at the right moment, accelerating when needed, but also by seeing him permanently analyse the evolution of a game accordingly to cards already played in his deck, and cards already played by his opponents

 

Semper paratus, numquam non paratus : Travel prepared

 

Knowledge of the V :tes cards is a common characteristic to most great players. Knowledge of what to expect when a vampire is influenced out, concerning disciplines’ potential, clan cards, and also realism towards the level of his opponent and his level of deckbuilding is a key for the great player to master his game.

 

Sure you cannot know every single card. So you have to learn by reading cards during the game, in order to distinguish the few specificities that might have a deep impact on the game (oh this action modifier cannot be played against werewolf and I control Ossian…). A card which has 4 effects should be checked 4 times. Cards knowledge will allow you to be safer and happier towards the game.

 

Vir sapit qui pauca loquitur : Don’t give information away

 

They might be essential information (show a card of your hand without making it on purpose), or implicit (take a time to think during the master phase of other people), you don’t want to give any information on the quality of your hand and the cards in it, or you might see your brilliant strategy burn away.

 

Generally, out of game (not consideration) is vital in V :tes. Learn the language of the body, learn to make a table play at the rhythm you want by imposing it with your actions and some good sentences. Put pressure on your opponents to get information from them. Learn the table-talk to help the other and help yourself in the meantime.

 

As an association, consider, as long as the possibility is not excluded by a card you play, that your opponent has the worst hand possible for you. Or at least, estimate the risk encountered if he has that hand you are afraid of.

 

Animis opibusque parati. : Be ready as well in spirit as in resources

 

Playing an under optimized deck because it is funny is not playing to win. Playing an under optimized deck because you think it is good in the metagame, because it is difficult for your opponents to evaluate, and it will surprise the table, are good reasons to play it.

 

Deckbuilding is an art of V :tes and is part of the 5 great competences of a V :tes champion. Copying decks is your way to game wins, modifying them to your play style is the way to tournament wins.

Don’t eliminate a deck because it does not correspond your play style. Learn its strengths and weaknesses to know how to counter it if needed.

 

 

 

Now, here is the representation of a V :tes player drawn by myself (lol). The elements of the same type are grouped together. Generally, for example, good mental capacity goes along with technical aptitudes (one supporting the other). A good knowledge of cards gives you good deckbuilding abilities… and so on.

 

I compare below a very good French player to an average player. As you can see, I consider average players to be rather good on cards and techniques, but weak on mental aspects of the game.

 

 

Capacité technique : Technical ability

Capacité mentale : Mental capacity

Hors Jeu : Out of game

Connaissance des cartes : Cards knowledge

 

That being said, we can observe various types of players. Some have gotten familiar to a great level of play because they are experienced but they don’t follow the new expansions so they are lacking deckbuilding and card knowledge. Those players you can trick with new masters, laibon cards…

 

On the opposite, some players are very good on cards and rules. But we can try to trap them on mental aspects because they are playing “on the ground” not speaking enough and not seeing the game evolving.

 

 

Do you see the next step?

 

I estimate that a sixth competence can be derived from the five first one: it is the capacity of a player to read the competences of players playing against him and to take benefit from them. Understand how the table goes is a key to determine how your opponents play, and that passes through analysing their competences.

 

You can consider this “profiling” the Jyhad. It is interesting to see that a table never makes it the same way. We have seen during the pre-release Heirs to the Blood events that with the same decks and the same seating’s, results of the games were not the same at all. The quality of players is not the cause of this but their decisions, abilities of making deals, playing with the flux, make good moves, be patient, are several elements that you must ponder which imagining where the table is going.

 

 

Here is my new version of the Jyhad player

 

 

Red : Great player with his evaluation zone of other player’s competencies

Purple: Average player and his evaluation zone of other player’s competencies

 

Obviously, you cannot evaluate your opponent if you are not excellent yourself on all fields. Today, being able to analyse all player strengths and weaknesses is the master key to master a Jyhad game.

 

Best

 

TTC